Big winds for the J/70s at the Hood River One-Design Regatta

Hood River One-Design Regatta! © J-Boats

The Columbia River Gorge is a wind seeker's paradise. The river marks the boundary between Oregon and Washington. Windsports of all kinds gather here during the summer for thrilling high-wind rides. With launch sites like Doug's Beach or Swell City, you might think it's a Pacific beach, but it's where coastal rain meets desert sun. The desert heats to 90+ degrees, creating predictable thermal westerly winds funneled up the Gorge. Windshifts occur, and wind can slant NW, W, or SW. Here's Janet Laffitte's story of wild sailing on their J/70 in 20 to 35 kts conditions!

"For one weekend in the summer, the boarders share the river with intrepid J/70 and Moore 24 sailors who seek the same thrills- short upwind legs flowing with the river and long wild planing downwind sleigh rides against the river's current. Run by the small but mighty, tight but friendly Hood River Yacht Club, the Hood River One-Design Regatta (HR1D) draws sailors from as far south as San Francisco and north up to Seattle. The Gorge is home base for many professional and Olympic-class sailors. They are also HRYC members who are more than happy to share local knowledge or donate their time to boost the junior sailing program. Let's be clear- regardless of sailing level, the local sailors are not wallflowers. Race night is game on, even in the 25-30 kts wind range, which the locals call a normal race day. Forget the J/70 class rule wind limit because they would never go out otherwise!

This year's regatta, always the first weekend in August, looked to be normal; temps on the coast were cool, while the desert was hot; wind speeds were 20-30 kts with higher gusts. The race committee set the course slightly down river (upwind) of a large sand spit. This spot is the main launch site for novice and experienced board sports. Courses were windward leeward- short, medium, or longer.

The Racing

Imagine an already chaotic short starting line, the current at 2.0+ knots flowing upwind (makes for big, breaking waves), the tight upwind legs in full breeze-on conditions, and the other worldly downwind ride of constant planing with multiple necessary jibes trying to keep the shiny side up.

Now, mix in the novice kiteboarder winger who's crashed just in front of you upwind, or the experienced kiteboarder who never looks behind as you are blasting downwind, and you've got a spicy recipe to keep you on your toes. It's not for the faint of heart, but oh so thrilling!

We raced four white water (knuckle) races on Saturday. Two races sent us to the medium mark called "The Hatch," located near a fish hatchery, but also near Swell City (the name says it all). Swell City is not favorable in either direction when sailing; You plow into super steep waves both upwind and downwind, thanks to the current at a river bend. It's an area best avoided for that reason, and also it has the most concentration of boarders. We raced 2 shorter courses to the Wells Island buoy upwind, where the weeds were also located, best avoided downwind as they stop you dead in your tracks!

Saturday evening, we enjoyed bluegrass music and BBQ at a local brewery and swapped wipe-out stories.

On Sunday, the race committee ran three quick races because the wind was in the 30s towards the medium weather mark. We had our share of white water and planing. You know you are on the step (or beyond) when the tactician says he can't read the water because the enormous bow wave is blowing past the stern, blocking his view. There were spectacular wipeouts with some people overboard (safely rescued) and keels flapping in the air, one dismasting (Moore 24), one boat aground on the sandbar (also a Moore 24 pulled), and everyone experiencing downwind rides that you live for.

Back at the dock, there were smiles all around and a yearning for more. As the winner said at the prize-giving, "Wow! Just Wow!"

We traveled to Lake Garda, Italy, for the J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds in June. For us, the Gorge is much closer (4 hours) with similar conditions. For the HRYC J/70 sailors, it's their backyard. We should all be so lucky. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this regatta a success!